Hearing the music playing, "Aw, The ice cream truck ran out of ice cream" oops. The lie has been perpetuated.

Put the WHOLE thing together himself. 200 pieces. We pulled the pieces he needed together, mostly dor the sake of time, but he totally clicked them all together. All I said was, look at the picture, and push the piece down harder.
SUCH a big boy.

And with Jack, it's just dealing with a lot of climbing. Napping a lot - too much? 

Good Day

The great summer fun continues and after today, the boys crashed hard. We had friends over this morning after not seeing them for two whole weeks (which when going from 4-5 times a week, that's a long time) then a little rest, a little Costco and a lot of pool time. Bobby is absolutely killing it in the pool. He jumps fearlessly and today dove for a toy 3.5-4 feet down. He hasn't figured out the technicalities of his arms and such, but he can swim far and knows how much air he has and stuff like that.  He's a smartie pants too, so observant and really cool to talk to one on one. We are still working on lots of things (greetings as a manner, being selfless, patience) but he's a good kid and growing up fast. I don't know how it came up but we were talking about more and less, and I couldn't really grasp if he got it. Maybe he was just being silly, but wouldn't say 3 is more than 2. he would just say 2 is less than 3, and, 3 is not less than 2, but never "more". Anyway, brought out some M&Ms and he got it real fast.

Weeeeeee

Jack will make a beeline for the tiniest crack in an open door. Just like Bobby was, he wants to go outside first thing in the morning. He loves to throw balls to himself and swing a bat or club. He was almost to tired to eat tonight at 6:15 (late for dinner, but way early for bed). You would think this would translate to a good nights sleep, but he usually only stays asleep until 11 or 12, then after that never more than 1-2 hours at a time. It's getting a little old.  But despite all that, he continues to be the happiest and smiliest.

One last bit of fresh air before bed

Okay, so not thrilling stuff, but such is our life!

The baby is gone.

Now I have a toddler. With a personality. Nay, with an attitude. All of a sudden, he knows what he wants. And he wants it now. And he has learned that thing they do where he arches his back and throws his body weight back in protest. Almost got dropped a few times. He has learned a good squeal/squawk and is not afraid to let you know that he is MAD about something. Putting a diaper on him is like World War 3. But he is still a ham and a cutie. His new thing is (trying to) crawl under cars. And the little bugger is fast. His favorite thing to eat is crayons. He loves to climb. And can get up on all our chairs, which all seem to lead to another level. I better get him a helmet. And a coat of armor. He is also turning into a real person. He tries to put puzzles together. And shape sorters, and that kind of stuff. He doesn't get it right, but he knows what he's supposed to be doing. Sigh, better freeze time. Also, no one mentions how disarming it is to see #2 in #1s clothes. I'll pull something out and can completely see Bobby in it still - that's Bobbys shirt. Aaah. 12 month appt/shots tomorrow.

Bobby is having a great summer. He is so good at swimming and has gotten really brave, jumping in and falling backward, and cannonballing. He is doing his part at toughening Jack up indeed. He wrote his whole alphabet the other day and only had to ask what the Q looked like. He is really into the chapter books and we are flying through them. He is still a huge talked and very inquisitive. He says I am'nt. - so I'm not, just putting the contraction in the wrong place, and it's too cute to correct.

Devri came to town from Texas for work visit so we got to swing by and see her near 11 month old. He was a cute little chunk. Devri has the most beautiful auburn hair, and you wouldn't think it would get passed on, but little Keaton was another redhead (although a little subtler in real life) and they all played pretty well for being in a hotel room.

Blogging Extravaganza!

Three posts in one day, WTF. Flood after the draught. Plus I realized I could blog from my phone. 8:41pm, Rick isn't home so I'm online looking for books on Amazon (instead of cooking dinner) because we are 13 pages away from the end of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that we got yesterday. We only read 2-3 chapters of 3-8 pages each, but either it's the wording or the story, but I guess it takes a lot longer than picture books (duh). Bedtime including peeing and brushing teeth etc. took 40 minutes tonight. Not that much longer, but it might be totally on me too, you know the book worm I was. And he was begging me at naptime today, Just Read it. And you might be able to hear that near whine if you know Bobby, I just want to watch it - is how it usually comes out. So Roald Dahl and EB White box sets, I hope you have free shipping, my baby is gonna be a reader.

Gimme that strangulation hazard!

This one is going to give me grey hairs. I cannot leave him alone for a second. If I do, he is either outside, in the trash, heading for the bathroom, or trying to climb on something. Eating a lego at this point is the least of my worries. He got up on the coffee playtable way too easily and then proceeded to stand up on it. My pinkie toe is rather balck and blue from stubbing it on my mad dash to save him after he went up the recliner. He does have some sense of the edges of things and sort of tries to put his feet first. 

Bobby, despite this sweet moment, is driving me nuts. I have pulled a few toddler toys back in from the garage and Bobby will not hardy let jack have them. And even when jack is playing super nicely alone, bobby has to intervene. Even when it's just moving things between baskets or boring baby toys.  

B: "Am I five this day?"
Sorry bud, we don't take turns with birthdays. We've got a draught here for a while.

Of course that was at 6:30am and on the one morning Jack slept in, because he had just been up at 5:30. Sigh. I was all set to take him to the doctor, but he is acting so much better, so we'll see...

Jack Turns One

Big Guy

I dont' know what it was, and it wasn't second child syndrome, but I had no desire to celebrate Jacks birthday. I just thought it was not really necessary and was cool to treat it like any other day (sorry little man) And I was the same way with Bobby, had it not been for his baptism, I think it would have been a super quiet day. But, for Jack, people kept asking what I was doing.... uh.... so we had the inner circle over and it turned out to be quite the perfect little party.  I ended up making it more than I had to, but it was hardly a party (no theme, invite, decorations, favors) just sandwiches and cake really. 

The only drawback was that Jack is pretty sick. He is just not himself at all. And it comes in waves, but he is so hard to console and nothing I try makes him happy.  Started a cough and cold, but I bet he has an infection now and may be getting his molars too.  He is sleeping normally, but really not eating so he has a lot of liquid poops and a real rashy butt -his first rash honestly. So he was a trooper and wanted to play, but was a little uncomfortable at times.

Glassy eyed sick guy

I served chicken salad on pretzel buns and caprese salad. Watermelon from the Fourth. And thats it. Some drinks. Ham and cheese for the kids. Strawberry and whip cream white cake. Simple simple. I used our leftover Batman party plates and napkins. It was more just a playdate with my favorite people.   More Pictures.

What do I do with this?

We did the 'cake smash' with a tiny cupcake with a strawberry on top. I'm sure he didn't eat any of it, but it's fine. Just enough of a mess was made. I don't usually get my kids anything much for birthdays or Christmas, but I did find a slide that I wanted used so now I can worry about Jack climbing up on that instead of just the table and chairs. He got a few books, a new toy of his own or two, good stuff.

Blowing it out before Jack grabbed the flame

Done by 1/1:30 or so for naps. Then Bobby headed down to the street to Jakes (his cousin was born at the exact same time/place as Jack), but he was napping so he stayed and played with Violet, which was nice and unusual, but I think nice for her especially

Hanging out the day before (you can tell b/c Batman and Superman are all B wears)

Jack was pretty cranky so he actually got a third nap in, then all the kids ended up here and played as usual. mostly outside, a lot of superhero stuff. It got pretty late, so we scrounged them up some dinner (because I needed more clean up!) But it was great. Rick was ready for the day to be over, but I love it.

Meatballs and Broccoli. Hungry Kids.

It was a busy day and I should go to bed now, but I have some Amish Friendship Bread in the oven (more dishes!) because that had to be done today.